Container



J. M. HOTHERSAL-L 2,186,973

CONTAINER Filed July 2, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 16, 1940. J. M. HOTHERSALL I 2,

CONTAINER Filed July 2, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 naimaip-la a Patented Jan. 16, 1940 I PATENT OFFICE CONTAINER John M. Hothersall, Brooklyn, N. Y., assign'or to American Gan Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application July 2, 1936, Serial No. 88,660

9 Claims.

joined thereto by means of an adhesive seal wherein the sealed joint between container and opening element is restricted toa relatively narrow band which forms a small tearing area dis- 15 posed adjacent one or more score lines cut in either or both of the joined parts to facilitate breaking of the seal when opening the container and ,to provide a barrier against spreading of the tearing area when the sealedjoint is broken. Another object is the provision of such a fibre container .wherein the adhesive seal joint between container and opening element includes a removable area formed in one of the joined parts and which is defined by score lines which prevent spreading of the tearing area when the sealed 25 joint is broken.

Still another object is the provision of a fibre container of thischaracter having a tubular body made from a blank theends of which are overlapped and secured together by a narrow band 30 of adhesive forming a sealed joint therebetween and adjacent scorelines cut in one or more of the overlapped parts of the blank to facilitate breaking the seal when opening the container and to. provide one or more barriers against 35 spreading of the tearing area when the sealed joint is broken, the score lines in the overlapped I parts of the blank directing the zone of tear intoother score lines cut in a wall of the body adjacent the opening element so that a portion of 40 this wall is released to provide a hinged reclosure cover for the container after it is opened.

A further object is the provision of a fibre" stock contained between the shear lines so that the displaced parts are offset from. the line of juncture.

Numerous-other objects andadvantages ofthe invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, so taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof. j

Referring to the'drawings:

.Figure 1 is a perspective view of a container embodying the instant invention and shows the container closed and sealed;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 1 and shows the container opened with its cover in raised position;

Fig. 3 is a composite or exploded plan view on an enlarged scale of a blank from which the container body is made and of two separate blanks from which end members are made, the end member blanks being shown graphically in a relative position to the body blank so that each is adjacent to what will become that end of the container to which it will be secured when the parts are assembled, the view showing the inner faces of said lanks; a

Fig. 4 is a ront elevation on an enlarged scale of the filled container shown in Fig. 1, with parts broken away;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary section of the front upper portion of the container showing the parts in sealed position, the view being taken substantially along the line 5-5 in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing the same parts with the sealbroken and the parts in partially open position;

Fig. '7 is an enlarged fragmentary section of a corner of the-container showing how the end members are indented and locked with the container body, the view being taken substantially along the line 1-1 in Fig. 4; and I Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional detail taken substantially along the line 8-8 in Fig. '7. X

As a preferred embodiment of the instant invention the drawings illustrate a container preferably comprising a rectangular body ll (Figs. 1, l

.2 and 4) which is closed at the ends with end members l2.

The body is made from a flat blank ll- (Fig. 3 .of fibrousmaterials such as paper, cardboard or the like and is formed with two parallel side edges l5 connected by irregular end-edges I6, ll.-

The edges l8, I! are also parallel one with another. Parallel score lines l8 are cut in one surface of the blank (this being the top surface I as viewed in Fig. 3) adjacent its upper part as viewed in this figure, these lines being spaced inwardly from and parallel to the side edges l5.

The upper or outer end of each score line l8 connects with a short angular score line 2| which is spaced inwardly from the top edge I! of the blank II.- The two score lines 2| are joined by a score line 22 which is located a relatively greater distance from the end of the blank than the lines 2 I.

Short score lines 25 (indicated by dotted lines) are also cut in the opposite or undersurface of .the blank l4 and are disposed close and parallel Taken together each pair of score lines I3, 25 define a weakened section 26 in the blank.

At the bottom of the blank l4 adjacent its edge l6 spaced angular score lines 23, 23 (indicated by dotted lines) are cut in what is its under surface when considering Fig. 3, although this will be an exterior surface later. These score lines are parallel to the score lines 2| at the upper edge I! of the blank. The inner ends of the score lines 28, 29 are Joined by parallel connecting score lines 3|, 32. The score lines 28, 29 and 3 l 32 enclose or define a removable area 33 in the blank which may be readily torn away to a predetermined depth, this being the depth of the score lines.

Thermo-plastic adhesive is applied to the upper and inner face of the, blank l4 and is disposed in parallel strips adjacent the side edges l5. The

parts 38, 39, of the blank at its upper end. This adhesive may be of any suitable material but is preferably of a thermo-plastic nature which when applied to the blank is allowed to harden or dry.

The blank I4 is folded into body form along a plurality of spaced parallel creases 4| so that when formed the blank is divided into a front wall 42 which includes the removable area 33, a bottom 43, a back wall 44, and a top 45 which includes the weakened sections 26 and a substantially triangular-shaped flap 46 having the score lines 2|, 22. The fiap 46 extends down and adjacent the front wall 45 and is secured thereto to form the open-ended tubular body The body is completed by pressing the over lapped fiap and front wall parts together while heating or otherwise causing the adhesive strip portions 36. 31 to become plastic so that the ends of the blank are stuck together. This-leaves the end 38 of the flap 46 free from the body front wall 45, the adhesive part 36, 31 forming a seal with the front wall by adhering to the removable area :3 which is enclosed within the score lines 26, 28,

Each end member I2 is preferably formed from a flat blank (Fig. 3) which in the construction shown in the drawings is'square and which is provided with notched outer corners 52. These notches provide flange parts 53 which are bent at right-angles to the blank along creases 54. The end members when inserted into the open ends of the body have their flange parts 53 extending outwardly.

It is convenient to insert and secure one end member l2 into one open end of the tubular body preparatory to filling. The flange parts 53 of the inserted end and the marginal end portions ii of the formed body are pressed together while heating or otherwise causing the adhesive strip portions 35 to become plastic so that the end member I2 is first stuck in place. The engaged sections of the end member and the body are then looked together by a plurality of indentations 56 (Figs. 1, 2, 4, 7 and 8).

At each indentation the contacting walls of the assembled parts are sheared or cut through along short, parallel and spaced lines I! (Fig. 8).

Between ,the sheared lines 51, the wall parts are laterally displaced outwardly and inwardly, in curved sections 53 which extend across the adhesive joint connecting the parts together as clearly shown in Fig. 8. This displacement of the wall parts locks the walls together.

When one end member I2 is attached to the body I I the container thus formed is ready for filling. The drawings show crackers or the like by way of illustration of such contents. The filled container is then closed by inserting the second end member l2 into its filling or open end. The second end member is stuck and then looked in place in the same manner as with the opposite end already described. The fianges 53 being on the outside permit shearing and interlocking oi the parts by manipulation from the exterior and therefore this may be done, as described, after the container is filled.

Opening of the container is effected by lifting thefiap 46, utilizing the unsecured portion 38 as a finger hold. This lifting of the flap causes'the fibres of the removable area 33 in the front wall 42 to separate or tear away thereby readily breaking the seal at fiap and front wall. The score lines 28, 29, 3| 32 serve as barriers to restrict this tearing action to the removable area and prevent the zone of tear from extending into the wall on either side of the removable area.

In case the fibres of the fiap 46 should tend to tear away during this operation, its score lines 2|, 22 serve as a barrier to prevent the zone of tearing from extending into the unsecured part 38. In any event the score lines 28, 29, 3|, 32 and the auxiliary score lines 2 I, 22 direct the zone of tearing into the weakened sections 26 in the top wall 45. This causes the fibres of the top wall 45 to separate between the score lines I8, 25 thereby releasing the central portion of the wall which is set off between the weakened sections 28.

The released portion of the top wall is utilized as a cover or reclosure member 6| which may be hinged on its connection with the back wall 44 along the crease 4| as shown in Fig. 2 to gain access to the interior of the container. The separation of the fibres at the score lines I8, 25 provides stepped-ledges 62 (Figs. 2 and 6) which are utilized, when the cover is again brought into reclosure position, to prevent the cover from being forced into the interior of the container. V

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. A fibre container comprising a body member having an opening element, the latter being secured by means of adhesive to said body member and providing a sealed Joint, said adhesive being interposed between the engaged parts in a restricted zone, and a score line formed'in each of said engaged parts and located adjacent a marginal edge of the adhesive to constitute a barrier which prevents spreading of the tearing area into said body member and said opening element when the sealed joint is broken as when opening the container.

2. A fibre container comprising a body member having an opening element, the latter being secured by means of adhesive to said body member and providing a sealed joint, said adhesive being:

interposed between the engaged parts in a restricted zone, and score lines formed in each of said engaged parts and setting oil removable areas to facilitate breaking the joint when openengaged parts and'located adjacent a marginal edge of the adhesive, and other cooperating score lines formed. in the other of said engaged parts and setting ofi a removable area which includes the restricted zone of the adhesive, said score 'lines facilitating breaking of l the sealed joint when opening the container and providing barriers which prevent spreading of the tearing area when the sealed joint is broken.

4. A fibre container comprising a body member having an opening element hingedly connected thereto and including a flap overlapping a wall of said body member, the flap being secured by means of adhesive to said body member wall and providing a sealed joint, said adhesive being interposed between the engaged parts in a restricted zone, and ascore line formed in each of said engaged parts and located adjacent a marginal edge of the adhesive to constitute a barrier which prevents spreading of the tearing area into said body member and said opening element when the sealed joint is broken as when opening the container.

5. A fibre container comprising a body member having an opening element, the latter being secured by means of adhesive to said body member and providing a sealed joint, said adhesive being interposed between the engaged parts in arestricted zone, score lines disposed in a wall of said body member adjacent the engaged parts and forming weakened sections in said wall, and a score line formed in one of said engaged parts and located adjacent a marginal edge of the cured by means of adhesive to said body member and providing a sealed joint, said adhesive being interposed between the engaged parts in a restricted zone, score lines disposed in a wall of said body member adjacent the engaged parts and forming weakened sections in said wall, and ascore line formed in one of said engaged parts and located adjacent a marginal edge of the adhesive to constitute a barrier which prevents spreading of the line of. tear when the sealed joint is broken as when opening the container and which also directs the line of tear into the weakened section in said adjacent wall whereby a portion of the adjacent wall is released to permit access to the interior of the container, said re-" leased portion being hingedly connected with the body member and producing a reclosure cover for the container.

"l. A fibre container comprising a body member having an-opening element, the latter being secured by means of adhesive to said .body member and providing a sealed joint, said adhesive being interposed between the engaged parts in a restricted zone, score lines disposed in the inner and outer surfaces of a wall of said body member adjacent the engaged parts and forming weakened sections in said wall, and a score line formed in. one of said engaged parts and located adjacent a marginal edge of the adhesive to constitute a barrier which prevents spreading of said tearing area when the sealed joint is broken as when opening the container and which also directs the tearing into said weakened sections to rupture them whereby a portion of said adjacent 'wall is released to permit access to the interior of, the container, said released portion of said adjacent wall being hingedly connected with the body member and producing a reclosurecover for the container, the rupture of said weakened section producing ledges which prevent entrance of the cover into the'container when the cover is in reclosure position. p

8. A fibre container comprising a tubular body member including a cover portion having a flap overlapping and adhesively secured to an adjacent wall of said body member to provide a sealed joint, and transverse score lines disposed in said cover portion adjacent the opposite ends thereof to set ofi and define opposite edges of said cover portion, said score lines being adapted to be ruptured after the sealed joint is broken by raisingsaid flap to permit the cover portion to be hinged outwardly relative to said body member, said body member having end wall members provided with flanged portions inter- ;indented with and permanently secured to said body member to reenforce the latter against strains when the adjacent score lines are ruptured to release said cover portion.

, 9. A fibre container comprising a one-piece tubular body member having overlapped and engaging parts secured together by means of adhesive and providing a sealed joint, said adhesive being interposed between the engaged parts in a restricted zone, a score line formed in one of said engaged parts and located adjacent a marginal edge of the adhesive to constitute a barrier which prevents spreading of the tearing I area when the sealed joint is broken as when part adjacent the opposite ends thereof to set off and define opposite edges of a cover portion, said last mentioned score lines being adapted to be ruptured durmg breaking of the sealed joint to permit said cover portion to be hinged outwardly relative to and along an unscored portion of said.- body member, and separate flanged end members for closing the ends of the container and adapted to be assembled with the body member- 

